olfactory

[ ol-fak-tuh-ree, -tree, ohl- ]

See synonyms for olfactory on Thesaurus.com

adjective

of or relating to the sense of smell: olfactory organs.

noun,plural ol·fac·to·ries.

Usually olfactories. an olfactory organ.
olfactory nerve.

Origin of olfactory

1650–60; <Latin olfactōrius, equivalent to olfac(ere) to smell at, sniff (ol(ēre) to smell (akin to odor) + facere to make, do) + -tōrius-tory¹

Other words from olfactory

ol·fac·to·ri·ly, adverb
non·ol·fac·to·ry, adjective, noun, plural non·ol·fac·to·ries.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for olfactory

olfactory

/ (ɒlˈfæktərɪ, -trɪ) /

adjective

of or relating to the sense of smell

nounplural -ries

(usually plural) an organ or nerve concerned with the sense of smell

Origin of olfactory

C17: from Latin olfactus, past participle of olfacere, from olere to smell + facere to make

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for olfactory

olfactory

[ ŏl-făk′tə-rē, ōl- ]

Relating to or involving the organs or sense of smell.

Cultural definitions for olfactory

olfactory

[ (ol-fak-tuh-ree, ohl-fak-tuh-ree) ]

A descriptive term for the sense of smell.

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